Marine propeller lock

ABSTRACT

An elongated bar for lengthwise insertion longitudinally between the inner and outer sleeve portions of a marine propeller. The bar includes hook structure on the end to be inserted between the sleeve portions for hooked engagement with one of the generally radial lugs supporting the outer sleeve portion from the inner sleeve portion and a slide member is mounted on the other end portion of the rod and includes a laterally offset portion defining a recess opening toward the hooked end of the rod. The slide member is slideable along the rod into position to overlie and telescopingly receive an associated propeller retaining nut in the recess defined by the offset portion and a lock assembly is provided for releasably locking the slide member in position against movement away from the hooked end of the rod whereby access to the propeller retaining nut by a wrench or other nut removing tool is prevented and unauthorized removal of the propeller from the associated propeller shaft is prevented. As a safety measure, the propeller lock is free of portions which would interfere with normal turning of the associated propeller and thus inadvertent operation of the associated motor without first removing the propeller lock will not cause damage to the propeller or other associated running gear even though a turning propeller having the propeller lock mounted thereon will cause an apparent vibration so as to immediately remind a person who has inadvertently started the associated motor that the propeller lock has not been removed.

Unite States atent [191 Reese [451 Sept. 18,1973

1 MARINE PROPELLER LOCK [76] Inventor:

Waco, Tex. 76710 [22] Filed: Dec. 13, 1971 [2]] Appl. No.: 207,344

[52] U.S. Cl 70/232, 70/178 [51] Int. Cl F161) 41/00, B60r 25/00 [58]Field of Search 70/14, 177, 178,

70/203, 212, 232, 416, 428, DIG. 56, DIG. 58

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,140,066 12/1938 White70/14 1,333,878 3/1920 Smith 70/253 1,830,667 11/1931 Lolley 70/1781,920,128 7/1933 Mickler 70/178 Primary Examiner-Albert G. Craig, Jr.Attorney-Harvey B. Jacobson et al.

[57] ABSTRACT An elongated bar for lengthwise insertion longitudinallybetween the inner and outer sleeve portions of a marine propeller. Thebar includes hook structure on the end to be inserted between the sleeveportions for John B. Reese, 1033 Southwood Dr.,

hooked engagement with one of the generally radial lugs supporting theouter sleeve portion from the inner sleeve portion and a slide member ismounted on the other end portion of the rod and includes a laterallyoffset portion defining a recess opening toward the hooked end of therod. The slide member is slideable along the rod into position tooverlie and telescopingly receive an associated propeller retaining nutin the recess defined by the offset portion and a lock assembly isprovided for releasably locking the slide member in position againstmovement away from the hooked end of the rod whereby access to thepropeller retaining nut by a wrench or other nut removing tool isprevented and unauthorized removal of the propeller from the associatedpropeller shaft is prevented. As a safety measure, the propeller lock isfree of portions which would interfere with normal turning of theassociated propeller and thus inadvertent operation of the associatedmotor without first removing the propeller lock will not cause damage tothe propeller or other-associated running gear even though a turningpropeller having the propeller lock mounted thereon will cause anapparent vibration so as to immediately remind a person who hasinadvertently started the associated motor that the pro peller lock hasnot been removed.

9 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures MARINE PROPELLER LOCK The boating industryis enjoying annual increases in sales due to the rapid growth in boatingpopularity and thus each year there are more and more boats equippedwith outboard motors and outdrive assemblies exposed to vandalism andtheft. While outdrive assemblies may not be readily removed from boatsand many persons have their outboard motors equipped with lockspreventing removal of the outboard motors, the propellers of bothoutdrive assemblies and outboard motors may be readily removed throughthe utilization of simple hand tools in a minimum of time. As a result,with propellers being frequently damaged by running in shallow water orstriking an underwater object, many propellers are stolen from outdriveassemblies and outboard motors each year.

At the present time there are no effective locks by which propellers maybe locked onto associated outdrives or outboard motors. Although itmight be possible to chain and thus lock a propeller to an outdriveassembly or outboard motor, inadvertent operation of the outdriveassembly or outboard motor without first removing such a chain couldcause extensive damage to either the propeller and/or the associatedoutdrive assembly or outboard motor.

It is therefore the main object of this invention to provide aneffective locking device whereby the propeller of an outdrive assemblyor an outboard motor may be locked against removal.

Still another object of this invention, in accordance with theimmediately preceding objects, is to provide a locking device forpropellers which may be mounted on propellers of the type having throughthe hub exhausts in a manner that will not result in damage to eitherthe propeller or the associated outdrive assembly or outboard motorshould the motor be inad-vertently operated without first removing thelocking device.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a propeller lockingdevice that will automatically signal the operator of the boat in theevent he should start the boat in motion with the propeller lockingdevice installed.

An ancillary object of this invention is to provide a marine propellerlocking device for preventing unauthorized removal of a propeller andwhich will also discourage unauthorized operation of the associated boatby generating a severe vibration if the boat is operated at speeds abovethat which is produced by engine idle speed.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein isto provide a marine propeller lock in accordance with the precedingobjects which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be ofsimple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that willbe economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free inoperation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout and in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the lower end of a typicaloutdrive or outboard motor unit with the propeller locking device of theinstant invention mounted on the associated marine propeller;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view takensubstantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 2-2 of FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken substantiallyupon the plane indicated by the section line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the propeller locking device illustratedin FIGS. 1-3; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of propeller lockingdevice.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings the numeral 10 generallydesignates the lower end of a typical outboard motor or outdrive unit.The unit 10 includes a housing 12 rearwardly from which a drivenpropeller shaft 14 projects. A marine propeller referred to in generalby the reference numeral 16 includes an outer sleeve portion 18, aninner sleeve portion 20 defining an annular passage 24 between thesleeve portions 18 and 20, generally radial webs 26 which support theouter sleeve portion 18 from the inner sleeve portion 20 andcircumferentially spaced propeller blades 28 supported from andradiating outwardly from the outer surface of the outer sleeve portion18.

The housing 12 defines an engine exhaust passage 30 which opensrearwardly into the annular passage 24 and thus exhaust gases from theassociated engine may be exhausted from the passage 30, into theadjacent forward end of the passage 24 and outwardly of the rear end 32of the passage 24. Also, it will be noted that the rear end portion ofthe propeller shaft 14 includes a splined section 34 for which a splinedrear and section 36 of a center sleeve 38 carried by the inner sleeveportion 20 is disposed and that a retaining nut 40 is threaded onto theexternally threaded rear terminal end portion 42 of the shaft 14 inorder to retain the propeller 16 on the shaft 14, this propellerconstruction being conventional.

A first form of propeller locking device is referred to in general bythe reference numeral 46 and includes an elongated rod 48 defining firstand second ends 50 and 52. The first end 50 includes a laterallyoutstanding hook 56 formed integrally therewith and it may be seen fromFIG. 3 of the drawings that the hook 56 and the first end 50 of the rod48 are disposed in an arc whose center is laterally offset to one sideof the rod 48.

A lock body referred to in general by the reference numeral 58 isprovided and includes a sleeve portion 60 from which a cylindricalmember 62 is supported. The cylindrical member 62 is open at its endadjacent the hook 56 and includes an end wall closing the end thereofadjacent the second end 52 of the rod 48. Further, the center of the arcin which the hook 56 as well as the adjacent first end 50 of the rod 48lie has its center curvature generally coinciding with the longitudinalcenter axis of the sleeve member 62.

A lock member 66in the form of a slide is slidably disposed on thesecond end 52 of the rod 48 and includes a tumbler lock actuated ratchetassembly 68 coacting with ratchet teeth 70 formed along one side edge ofthe rod 48 whereby when the ratchet assembly 68 when locked will allowsliding movement of the lock member or slide 66 along the rod 48 towardthe hook 56 but prevent sliding movement of the lock member or slide 66along the rod 48 toward the second end 52 which is provided with alateral abutment 72 to prevent complete withdrawal of the lock member orslide 66 from the rod 48.

In operation, when it is desired to apply the propeller locking device46 to the propeller 16, the ratchet assembly 68 is unlocked and slidalong the rod 48 to the second end thereof. Thereafter, the lock body 58is also slid toward the second end 52 into abutting engagement with thelock member or slide 66. Then, the first end 50 of the rod 48 islengthwise forwardly inserted between the inner and outer sleeveportions 20 and 18 and then laterally displaced so as to engage the hook56 with one of the webs 26. The rod 48 is then pulled rearwardly awayfrom the housing 12 to fully seat the engaged web 26 in the hook 56 andthe lock body 58 is slid toward the first end 50 as as to position theforwardly opening cylindrical member 62 over the rear end of the innersleeve portion 20 to thus wholly position the nut 40 within thecylindrical member 62 and completely prevent access thereto by any toolsfor removing the nut 40.After the rod 48 and lock body 58 have thus beenpositioned,the lock member or slide 66 is slid forwardly along the rod48 toward the first end thereof into abutting engagement with the rearend wall 64 of the sleeve or cylindrical member 62 to thus prevent itsrearward displacement along the rod 48. Thus, with the propeller lockingdevice 46 properly applied to the propeller l6, removal of the propellerby loosening the nut 40 is prevented. Of course, it may be seen fromFIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings that no portion of the propeller lockingdevice 46 will interfere with the housing 12 or any other portion of thedrive unit during rotation of the propeller 16 and thus the associatedengine may be inadvertently started without damaging the unit 10.However, it will be appreciated that the propeller locking device 46,when mounted on the propeller 16, will generate considerable vibrationupon rotation of the propeller H6 at speeds above idle speed. Thus, aperson inadvertently starting the associated engine will be remindedthat the propeller locking device 46 has not been removed or personsattempting unauthorized use of the associated boat will be discouragedfrom operation of the boat at speeds greater than idle speeds.

With attention now invited more specifically to FIG. 5 of the drawingsthere may be seen a second form of propeller locking device referred toin general by the reference numeral 46. The device 46' includes manycomponents corresponding to those of the device 46 and accordingly,these similar components have been designated by corresponding primereference numerals.

The locking device 46' differs from the device 46 in that the rod 48 isnot provided with teeth corresponding to the teeth 70 but is insteadprovided with longitudinally spaced bores 73 through which the hasp 75of a padlock 77 may be secured in order to limit movement of the sleeveor cylinder member 62' toward the second end 52 of the rod 48'. Ofcourse, the propeller locking device 46' may be marketed with but a fewbores 73 formed in the rod 48' and if the locking device 46 is to beutilized on a propeller other than that for which it is intended to beused, such additional bore 73 as needed may be formed through the rod48'.

Othersise, the operation of the device 46' is identical to the operationof the device 46.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A propeller locking device for preventing unauthorized removal ofmarine propellers of the through the hub exhaust type includinggenerally concentric inner and outer sleeve members supported from oneanother by generally radial webs and with one end of the inner sleevemember comprising a thrust abutment face engageable by a propellerretaining nut, said locking device including an elongated locking barhaving a hook portion on one end opening toward the other end, and alock body mounted on the other end portion of said bar for adjustableguided shifting therealong and including a laterally offset portion forregister with and disposition behind an associated propeller nut toprevent its removal, said hook portion being adapted to be removablyengaged with one of said webs, the laterally offset portion of said lockbody defining a recess opening toward said end of said bar and adaptedto receive a propeller retaining nut therein, whereby an associated nutmay be completely received within said recess so as to preventengagement of the nut by a wrench.

2. The combination of claim I wherein said bar is flat and includesopposite side edge portions, said hook portion projecting outwardly ofone of said side edge portions.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said lock body is freely slidableon said bar, a lock member operable to releasably lock said lock bodyagainst movement toward said other end of said locking bar.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said lock member comprises aseparate lock slide sliding disposed on said bar on the side of saidlock structure remote from said one end of said bar and releasablylockable in position on the bar against movement toward said other endthereof and in position to define an abutment engageable by said lockbody to limited movement toward the other end of said bar.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said bar and lock member includecoacting ratchet means allowing movement of said lock member toward saidone end of said bar and releasably preventing movement of said lockmember toward the other end of said bar.

6. The combination of claim 4 wherein said lock member comprises a shankequipped lock and said bar has at least one transverse bore formedtherethrough through which said shank is lockable.

7. A propeller locking device for preventing unauthorized removal ofmarine propellers of the type including a cylindrical hub portion to betelescoped onto the rear end of a propeller shaft and retained inposition on the shaft by means of a propeller nut threaded onto theshaft behind the hub portion, the hub portion also including generallyradially outwardly projecting portions intermediate its opposite ends,said propeller locking device including an elongated locking bar havinga hook portion on one end opening toward the other end and adapted to beengaged with the forward edge of one of said radially outwardlyprojecting portions, a lock body mounted on the other end portion ofsaid bar for adjustable guided shifting therealong and including alaterally offset portion defining a forwardly opening recess openingtoward said one end of said bar, said lock body being slidable alongsaid bar toward said one end for telescoping over the rear end of saidnut, and means operatively associated with said lock body and barreleasably preventing rearward movement of said lock body along said bartoward the other end thereof.

8. A propeller locking device for preventing unauthorized removal of amarine propeller of the type including a rearwardly facing abut-mentface through which on the other end portion of said tension member foradjustable positioning therealong and including a laterally offsetportion for register with and disposition behind an associated propellernut to prevent its removal, the laterally offset portion of said lockbody defining a recess opening toward said one end of said tensionmember and adapted to receive a propeller nut retaining therein, wherebyan associated nut may be completely received within said recess so as toprevent engagement of the nut by a wrench, said lock body and tensionmember including coacting means releasably locking said lock body in aselected position against movement toward said other end of said tensionmember.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein said coacting means includes meansfor releasably locking said lock body on said tension member in adjustedposition along the latter against movement toward the other end of thetension member.

1. A propeller locking device for preventing unauthorized removal ofmarine propellers of the ''''through the hub'''' exhaust type includinggenerally concentric inner and outer sleeve members supported from oneanother by generally radial webs and with one end of the inner sleevemember comprising a thrust abutment face engageable by a propellerretaining nut, said locking device including an elongated locking barhaving a hook portion on one end opening toward the other end, and alock body mounted on the other end portion of said bar for adjustableguided shifting therealong and including a laterally offset portion forregister with and disposition behind an associated propeller nut toprevent its removal, said hook portion being adapted to be removablyengaged with one of said webs, the laterally offset portion of said lockbody defining a recess opening toward said end of said bar and adaptedto receive a propeller retaining nut therein, whereby an associated nutmay be completely received within said recess so as to preventengagement of the nut by a wrench.
 2. The combination of claim 1 whereinsaid bar is flat and includes opposite side edge portions, said hookportion projecting outwardly of one of said side edge portions.
 3. Thecombination of claim 1 wherein said lock body is freely slidable on saidbar, a lock member operable to releasably lock said lock body againstmovement toward said other end of said locking bar.
 4. The combinationof claim 3 wherein said lock member comprises a separate lock slidesliding disposed on said bar on the side of said lock structure remotefrom said one end of said bar and releasably lockable in position on thebar against movement toward said other end thereof and in position todefine an abutment engageable by said lock body to limited movementtoward the other end of said bar.
 5. The combination of claim 4 whereinsaid bar and lock member include coacting ratchet means allowingmovement of said lock member toward said one end of said bar andreleasably preventing movement of said lock member toward the other endof said bar.
 6. The combination of claim 4 wherein said lock membercomprises a shank equipped lock and said bar has at least one transversebore formed therethrough through which said shank is lockable.
 7. Apropeller locking device for preventing unau-thorized removal of marinepropellers of the type including a cylindrical hub portion to betelescoped onto the rear end of a propeller shaft and retained inposition on the shaft by means of a propeller nut threaded onto theshaft behind the hub portion, the hub portion also including generallyradially outwardly projecting portions intermediate its opposite ends,said propeller locking device including an elongated locking bar havinga hook portion on one end opening toward the other end and adapted to beengaged with the forward edge of one of said radially outwardlyprojecting portions, a lock body mounted on the other end portion ofsaid bar for adjustable guided shifting therealong and including alaterally offset portion defining a forwardly opening recess openingtoward said one end of said bar, said lock body being slidable alongsaid bar toward said one end for telescoping over the rear end of saidnut, and means operatively associated with said lock body and barreleasably preventing rearward movement of said lock body along said bartoward the other end thereof.
 8. A propeller locking device forpreventing unauthorized removal of a marine propeller of the typeincluding a rearwardly facing abut-ment face through which a centralpropeller shaft receiving bore opens and against which a propellerretaining nut threaded on the rear end of a propeller shaft on whichsaid propeller is mounted may abut to retain the propeller on the shaft,said locking device including an elongated tension member having meanson one end adapted for removably engaging a forward portion of apropeller disposed to one side of the central bore formed therethroughagainst rearward displacement of the tension member relative to thepropeller, a lock body slidably mounted on the other end portion of saidtension member for adjustable positioning therealong and including alaterally offset portion for register with and disposition behind anassociated propeller nut to prevent its removal, the laterally offsetportion of said lock body defining a recess opening toward said one endof said tension member and adapted to receive a propeller nut retainingtherein, whereby an associated nut may be completely received withinsaid recess so as to prevent engagement of the nut by a wrench, saidlock body and tension member including coacting means releasably lockingsaid lock body in a selected position against movement toward said otherend of said tension member.
 9. The combination of claim 8 wherein saidcoacting means includes means for releasably locking said lock body onsaid tension member in adjusted position along the latter againstmovement toward the other end of the tension member.